Knitting machine



H; MCADAMS KNITTING MACHINE Nov. 12, 1940.

8 Sheeis-Sheet 1;

Filed Fe b. 8, 1932...

HMFAIEIEEQ- NQv.12,194o.' H. McAPAMS 2,221,713

' xm'ritn e MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1932 8 Sheets-Staget 2 INVENTOR.

HarrgMEAdamE ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 12, 1940. QWADAMS 1 2,221,713

' KNITTING MACHINE I Filed Feb. 8, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 HEPP MEAEIE'IEET 1 ATTORNEY Nov. 12, 1940.

H. McADAMS KNITTING MACHINE I Filed Feb. a,,. 1932 a Sheets Sheet 5'5 I ,THM AdEmEL MMM ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 12, 1940. H. McADAMS KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1932 s Sheets-Sheet s HIE-11:33 M Adama ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 12, 1940. H. McADAMS 7 2.2219713 KNITTING MACHINE Filed Fens, 1932 a Sheets-Sheet 7 nun a Q n-n a a 99 1" INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Hard- M Adam-Ls. 7

Nov. 12, 1940. H. McADAMS K'NYI'ITING MACHINE' Filed Feb. 8, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOIR. M'Adarna- ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE Harry McAdams, Reading, Pa., assignor to Nolde and Horst Company, Reading, Pa., a corporation This invention relates to improvements in knitting machines.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved knitting machine whereon knitted fabric may be produced with incorporated plated designs having interspersed contrastingly colored yarns.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved knitting machine whereon fabric may be produced with plated designs formed of supplementary yarns of desired color or colors, incorporated with'the stitches of the main yarn during production by wrapping the same about the needles in such manner that complicated and ornamental designs may be plated in the fabric.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved knitting machine for the production of plated fabrics, having improved needle controlling jack and jack operating cam constructions.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved means for the selective utilization of a large number of wrapping yarns upon a conventional independent needle knitting machine.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved methodfor the production of plated fabrics.

A further object of this invention is the vision of an improved plated fabric.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved synchronized cam controlling means for cooperatively actuating needles for the reception of a plurality of different plating yarns in wrapped relation upon the needles of an independent needle machine.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved knitting machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the improved knitting machine.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the manner in which a plurality of plating yarns may be manipulated for reception upon predetermined needles of the needle set.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional View taken through the cylinder of the improved knitting machine, showing the association therewith of a series of selectively operated jack actuating cams and a series of selectively operated yarn finger controlling cams.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of an improved yarn finger which is used upon the machine for promanipulation of yarns into wrapping relation upon the needles of the machine.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a jack used upon the machine.

Figure '7 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the improved machine, substantially on the line l! of Figure 2, and more particularly showing means for selectively operating the cams which manipulate the yarn control fingers.

Figure 8 is a view on a developed plane of the needle set and cooperating series of jacks in associated relation with a series of yarn guide and controlling fingers, and the operating cams'for knitting the fabric shown in Figure 12.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing part of the means for actuating the yarn controlling finger cams of the machine.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view, showing on a developed plane, the arrangement of pattern control lugs which, through a lever and cam mech anism, control actuation of the jacks and needles of the machine for the knitting of the plated fabric shown in Figure 12;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view showing on a developed plane the pattern control lugs which, through a lever and cam mechanism, control actuation of the yarn fingers, by means of which the yarns are wrapped upon the needles of the machine prior to the knitting operation, for the production of the fabric shown in Figure 12.

Figure 12 shows 'a piece of fabric with an incorporated plated design interknitted with the main yarn after the so-called wrap stripe method.

Figure 13 is a view of another piece of fabric with a different and more complicated color design which is plated in the fabric after the, wrap stripe method, showing the float portions of the threads at the inside of the fabric.

Figure 14 is a view on a developed plane of the needle set and cooperating series of jacks in associated relation with a series of yarn guide or controlling fingers, and the jack, needle, and yarn finger operating cams for the knitting of the fabric shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary View showing on a developed plane the arrangement of pattern control lugs which, through a lever and cam mechanism, control actuation of the jacks and needles of the machine for the knitting of the type of plated fabric shown in Figure 13.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary view showing on a developed plane the pattern control lugs which, through a lever and cam mechanism, control actuation of the yarn fingers by means of which the yarns are wrapped upon the'needles of the machine prior to the knitting operation, for the production of the fabric shown in Figure 13.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred and modified forms of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved knitting machine which may include a frame B, cylinder C; means D for operating the cylinder and driving the machine; a set of needles E; a set of jacks F to actuate the needles E; means G to actuate the jacks; a yarn controlling device H for wrapping the yarns upon the needles of the machine; and means K for actuating the yarn guide fingers of the means H. By way of example pieces of fabric L and M are shown respectively in Figures 12 and 13, but it is to be understood that a wide variety of designs and fabrics may be knitted upon the improved machine.

The knitting machine generally partakes of characteristics of the Banner type disclosed in U. S. Patent #933,443. The frame B has a supporting bed 20 upon which the cylinder C is rotatably mounted, as shown in Figure 4. The means for rotating and oscillating the cylinder C are of the usual type, preferably similar to those shown in the patent above mentioned. The cylinder is driven off the main shaft 2! shown in Figure 2, whereon are positioned the usual pulleys and gearing, including a pinion (not shown) for driving a larger gear 23 (see Figure 2) known conventionally as the 104 gear.

The cylinder C is preferably of special construction, in that it is longer than the usual knitting machine cylinder. It is of the type described in, my co-pending application Serial No. 586,635, filed Jan. 14, 1932, and has needle grooves 26 therein. At its lower end the cylinder is anchored, as shown at 21 in Figure 4 of the drawings, upon the gear 28 which forms part of the cylinder driving means D, as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. The grooves 25 are relatively deep, since it is contemplated that the machine may be utilized as set forth in my above mentioned application for the feeding of a plurality of body yarns in plating relation, although in the example shown in the drawings only one main yarn is used to produce the knitting of the main web of the fabric. The needles 32 of the set E are each of the usual latch type; half of them having long butts 4D and the remaining having short butts ll; the former being shown in full black in Figures 8 and 14 of the drawings. The jacks 3| forming the set F have individual characteristics similar to that shown in Figure 6. Each of them includes a stem or body portion 33 which at the lower end thereof is provided with a plurality of frangible butts M, 45, 46, ll, 38 and 49, more or less. Any or all of these butts may be snapped off at .its juncture with the jack shank, or at any place along its length so that it may be made into a short butt or a. butt of intermediate length. Thus it can readily be seen that each jack may be provided with any arrangement of butts desired. This enables the selected actuation of predetermined needles as will be subsequently described.

The jack actuating means G preferably includes a pair of supporting blocks 50 and each of which is provided with a vertical series of slots therethrough, preferably radial to the cylinder. These blocks are attached upon the bed 20 of the machine. In the slots 52 of the block 50, and in the slots 53 of the block 55 fiat elongated horizontally positioned cams are slidable into and out of butt actuating relation upon the jacks 3! of the set F. Any desired number of slots 52 and 53 may be provided in the blocks 50 and 5i, but in the preferred instance eight of such slots are provided in each block. For the knitting of the fabric L shown in Figure 12 the block 50 is provided with upper and lower cams 54 and 55, positioned in the two centrally positioned slots 52 of the block, as shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings. These slidable cams 54 and 55 are provided with angularly positioned cam heads thereon, as shown in Figure 4, which are respectively positioned to engage butts at the level of the jack butts 41' and 48 respectively, in order to elevate the jacks which have butts at these levels, and for cooperatively elevating the respective needles associatd therewith into position where the yarn controlling device H may wrap particular yarns thereon. In the blocks 5! there are positioned upper and lower cams 56 and 51 in the two uppermost slots 53, which have cam heads thereon for actuating jacks which have butts at the levels 44 and 45 respectively. The upper cam 56 is positioned so that it will actuate only upon the long jack butts M. All such long jack butts are indicated in solid black in Figure 8 of the drawings, and short jack butts are indicated by the rectangular blank spaces.

The cams of the blocks 50 and 5| are similarly actuated, wherever positioned in either of said blocks. They are each provided with springs 60 which normally urge the cam heads into position for engaging the butts and actuating the jacks during cylinder revolution. The jack actuating means G further includes a pattern control wheel or drum 6!, best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, which is rotatably mounted upon the machine frame at 62, preferably upon a bracket arm E53 attached to the usual frame of the machine. This drum 6! supports a plurality of lugs intended to actuate the system of levers for selective control of the various cams mounted in the blocks 58 and 5|. The drum 6! is actuated in a step by step movement off the cylinder driving mechanism of the machine. Normally the drum has an externally smooth surface, and the lugs may be applied on the drum. in selected manner to accord with any desired pattern.

Adjacent the frame of the machine the drum is provided with a rigid ratchet wheel 5 which has sixty teeth about the circumference thereof. In the above mentioned type of machine upon which the improvement is applicable, but which is not to be limited thereto, the conventional 104 gear wheel 23 rotates once for each four revolutions of the cylinder C. Since it is intended to advance the drum 6| for the length of one tooth for two revolutions of the cylinder C, the gear wheel 23 is provided with diametrically opposed pins or lugs 55 positioned to engage a pivoted lever 66, shown' in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings. The lever 66 is keyed upon a shaft 61 mounted upon the machine frame, and this shaft also has an arm 68 keyed therewith. A pawl 69 is pivoted on the arm 68, between the ends thereof, the actuating end of which rests by gravity upon the teeth of the ratchet wheel 64. A spring It) normally draws the lever 68 into a position sothat the arm 56 will be engaged by the two lugs 65 during rotation of the gear 23. Such engagement will throw the pawl 69 rearwardly for advancing the ratchet wheel and also the drum 5|.

Since at times it will be desirable to cut out the pattern mechanism, means is provided to hold the pawl actuating lever out of the path of move ment of the lugs 55. It includes a bell crank lever 12 pivoted on the machine frame, one end of which is in position for abutment against a the same.

, eral surface thereof.

surface I3 of the arm 68 in order to hold the lever arm 66 out of the path of engagement by the lugs 65. The bell crank lever 12 is provided with a rod I5 which is pivoted at one end thereto. The opposite end of the connecting rod is pivoted to the free end of an arm I6. The latter is keyed upon a shaft 'II, shown best in Figure 1 of the drawings. The pattern chain I8 of the machine is provided with appropriate lugs I9, shown in Figure 2' of the drawings, adapted to operate against an arm 80 pivoted on the front of the machine, which is in position to act against another arm 8I keyed upon the shaft TI for rocking the latter in order to: trip the bell crank lever 12 into the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The bell crank lever I2 is normally held in an inoperative relation by means of a second bell crank lever 82 shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, which has one end thereof in position to be engaged by suitable pins on the drum 0|, selectively placed to operate the lever 82 at the desired time. The other arm portion of the bell crank lever 82 is suitably notched in a stepped relation to receive a pin 84 carried upon the bell crank lever '12. During step by step advance of the drum BI the bell crank lever 82 is in the position shown in Figure 2, and holding the bell crank lever I2 inoperative. However, as soon as a drum pin trips the bell crank lever 82 the pin 84 will be released and the spring 85 will throw the bell crank lever I2 into position against the arm 68, at the surface I3, to hold the arm 66 out of the path of travel of the lugs 55, so that the drum cannot be advanced until a lug IS on the pattern chain I8 trips the bell crank lever 72, as has been above described.

Referring to the yarn controlling device by means of which the plating or design providing yarns are wrapped upon predetermined needles, a bracket or standard 90 is mounted upon the bed or on the frame portion of the machine for carrying the bobbin stand and gears for driving This bobbin stand comprises a rotary spindle 9| rotatably supported off the upper frame portion 92 of the standard, and having gears conguide passageways I00 provided in the upper plate ll of the device H, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The device H includes a cylindrical hollow body H02, which at its upper end has the depending sleeve or skirt I03 of theplate I0! telescoped therein and keyed as at I04. A spindle attaching hub or sleeve I05 is fixedly keyed at I06 to the central portion of the plate IOI; depending within the hollow body I02, in annnularly spaced relation with the inner periph- The spindle 5 extends through the hub I05 and is secured thereto as by set screws I07; the latter being accessible through an opening I08 provided in the body I02, as shown in Figure 4, through which the bit of a screw driver may be inserted. The body I02 externally is provided with parallel vertical slots I !0 wherein the individual yarn guide fingers I I I are mounted in such manner that they may be rocked to move their lower ends for swinging the yarn into needle wrapping relation. The additional yarns or threads extend downwardly through the openings I00 and through the passageway between the body Hi2 and the hub W5 and are threaded through the lower apertured ends of the fingers III, as shown in Figure 4.

The yarn controlling fingers III are of improved construction, each including a shank I I3 which at the upper end thereof may be provided with a plurality of frangible butts I I4, I I5, III; and Ill, each of which may be readily snapped off at its connection with the shank I I3, or at any location along its length, to either eliminate the same or make it into a short butt. The shanks H3 along the butt projecting edge thereof are provided with an upper recess H0 and a lower recess H9. The upper recess H8 is adaptedto receive a plurality of retaining springs I therein which are under tension and suitably retained in an annular groove (not shown) in the body I02, in order to hold-the fingers MI in place upon the body E02, as shown in Figure 4. The lower recess H9 is provided to receive a spring or elastic device I2I. The slots H0 have the bottoms thereof shaped to converge downwardly; the upper ends of the slots IIO of the body I02 being widest and at this location it is noted that the shanks H3 of the figers III are sloped, along the edge I in Figure 5 of the drawings, so as to provide a fulcrum point I25 on the shank I I3. Cams are adapted to actuate upon the butts at the upper ends of the fingers I I I for the purpose of moving the said upper ends of the fingers inwardly towards the spindle QI, which throws the lower ends of the fingers radially outward in order to wrap the yarns controlled thereby upon predetermined; needles of the machine, as can quite readily be understood from Figure 4 of the drawings.

The latch ring I of the improved machine is of usual construction, with certain minor additions in the way of guide wires and rods, shown in Figure 3, for the purpose of assisting the additional yarns to be wrapped upon the needles. The conventional yarn controllingfingers I ZH may be provided upon the latch ring, for manipulating the body yarns, or indeed additional yarns if desired, for the knitting of a fabric having the knitted web of the fabric shown in Figures 12 and 13, or a plated web if so desired.

Referring to the means K for actuating the fingers of the device H, it is to be noted that the same comprises a series of cams mounted above the cylinder and in an out of the way relation of conventional knitting machine actuating parts. These cams are operated off of a pattern control drum I33, best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings,

which-is of the same effective diameter as the pattern drum 6| above described. The drum I33 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft I35 carried by the bracket arms 03. The drum I33 is intermittently driven in synchronized relation with the drum ,EI and in the same direction and at the same rate of speed. This is accomplished by keying gears I31 and 130 upon the drums 6i and 133. They have the same pitch diameter and mesh with an intermediate gear I39 which is retatably mounted upon a shaft Ill-0 provided upon the bracket 63, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. Indeed it would be possible to actuate the yarn control finger actuating cams off of the drum 6 I, although for compactness the additional drum I33 is preferred.

A pair of cam blocks MI and M2 are mounted upon a suitable supporting shelf I53 which is attached, as shown at I44 in Figure '7, to the standard 90. Each of these blocks MI and I42 supports four cams; the cams of the block MI being intended to actuate predetermined yarn control fingers for throwing the yarns thereof into needle wrapping relation with those needles which are raised by the cams oi the block 58. On the other hand the cams of the block Hi2 are intended to actuate predetermined yarn control fingers of the device H for the wrapping of the yarns thereof onto those predetermined needles of the cylinder 0 which are raised by the cams of the block 5i above described.

The cam block I4 I, as shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings, is provided with four cams I45, I45, I48 and M9, which are respectively intended to actuate those fingers III of the device H, for the wrapping of yarns upon certain needles of the cylinder C, which respectively have butts at the levels of the butts H6, H5, H6 and H1. The cam block M2 is similarly provided with four cams I50, IliI, I52 and I53 in position to swing the fingers of the device I-I into yarn wrapping relation with predetermined needles raised by the cams of the block 5!; the cams I50 to I53 inclusive respectively actuating those fingers I I I which have butts at the levels of the butts I I I to I I1 inclusive. The cam heads upon the cams I l-5 to I53 inclusive have their butt engaging surfaces sloped so as to gradually rock the yarn controlling fingers of the device H, as can well be understood from Figure '7 of the drawings. As to the manner of pushing the yarn finger swinging cam into butt engaging relation with the fingers III, it will be noted that the cams of the block Hi2 are actuated by means of levers I55 which are pivoted at I55 on the frame I43, as shown in Figures 1 and '1 of the drawings. On the other hand the cams of the block I II are actuated by means of levers I51 which are pivoted at I58 upon the support M3. These levers, as to the length, and the location of their pivot axes are arranged so that the cams of the two blocks MI and M2 may be moved for only the required distance.

Referring to Figures 2, '1 and 9 of the drawings, it will be noted that a guide block or support IB J is mounted upon a support IEI attached to the upright 90. This support I6!) is provided with a plurality of passageways therethrough for slidably receiving connecting rods I62. These connecting rods I62 are pivotally connected at I63, one to each of the levers I55 and I51. Bell crank levers I64 are pivoted at I65 upon a bracket arm I66 attached to the support IEI. Their upper ends are ofiset at various distances and actuate against pins I 51 which are mounted normal to the connecting rods I52, and upon each of them, as shown in the drawings. The other ends of the bell crank levers I65 are each provided with a depending length adjustable rod I10. The lower ends of the rods I10 are pivotally connected at III to suitable drum lug engaging portions I12 reciprocably mounted within suitable passageways I13 of a supporting block H4. The latter is eccentrically mounted at I15 upon suitable bracket arms I16. The drum facing ends of the portions I12 are convex, as shown at I18 in Figure 9 of the drawings, so that when the lugs of the drum I33 engage the same there will be no hindrance to rotation of the drum, and the lugs will push the portions I12 upwardly in the passageways of the support I14; rocking the bell crank levers IIi l upon their pivots. In turn the connecting rods I52 are moved longitudinally for rocking the levers I55 and I51. The latter at their free ends engage pins I on the various cams of the blocks MI and I42, for actuating said cams into yarn control finger rocking relation.

In order to prevent the yarn control fingers from rebounding after the fingers have completed a yarn wrapping operation upon predetermined needles, I have provided a leaf spring I8I, shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, which may be associated beneath each of the cam blocks MI and I 42; the same being under considerable tension for normally holding the yarn control fingers in their inoperative positions. It is shown in Figure 4 that the yarn control fingers I I I when moved to a yarn wrapping relation with a needle will further tension the rebound preventing spring IBI.

In order to prevent the additional yarns from being knitted into the fabric, which is necessary under certain circumstances when it is desired to accomplish normal knitting without plating or design effects, means has been provided to cut the device H, and indeed its operating means K, out of operation notwithstanding that the drum I33 maybe intermittently rotated. To that end the shaft I15 has a lever arm I9il keyed therewith, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, which has a pin and slot connection at IQI with a lever I92 pivoted at I93. The lever I92 is actuated off a lever I94; the latter being actuated by the usual pattern wheel I95 of the knitting machine, and said lever having a rod I 96 connecting it with the lever I92. It is readily apparent that lug operation of the lever I94 off the pattern wheel I95 will throw the lever arm I96 for rotating the shaft I'I5. Inasmuch as the supporting block I'l -I is eccentrically mounted by the shaft I15 it is readily apparent that the portions I12 will be thrown to the dotted positions shown in Figure 9 of the drawings and out of the path of travel. of the lugs of the drum I33. It will be noted that there is no positive connection of the bell crank levers I64 with the connecting rods I62, but that said bell crank levers merely actuate against the projections I61 when moved in the proper direction.

The jack actuating cams mounted in the blocks 50 and SI are actuated much in the same manner off the drumBI as set forth in my co-pending application above referred to. That is, a number of levers I91, shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, are pivoted at I98 upon a side of the machine. One end of each of these levers is actuated off the drum BI; the opposite end is connected by a suitable rod I96 to abell crank lever I99. The latter are pivoted upon suitable brackets 2M and actuate against suitable pins ZllI upon the cams of the blocks 50 and iii. Suitable springs 60 normally urge the cams in the blocks 5!) and 5! into butt actuating relatiOn with the jacks of the set F. The lugs of the drum III actuate the levers I91 for withdrawing the cams of the blocks 50 and 5! from jack butt actuation, as can readily be understood.

Two typical set-ups are shown in Figures 8 and 14 of the drawings for production of the types of fabric L and M respectively illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 of the drawings.

Referring to the set-up shown in Figure 8 for the production of the fabric L, it will be noted that half of the jacks of the set F are provided with long lower butts 49 and half with shorter lower butts 19 at the same level. Every fourth needle is intended to take one of the additional yarns Wrapped thereon by the device H. To that end every thirteenth jack is provided with a long butt M, and at the same level the remaining needle of the knitting machine.

jacks are provided with shorter butts 44 Every fourth jack starting with those having the long butts 44 in a direction counter to cylinder rotation is provided with a long butt 45. Every fourth jack starting with those having the long butts 45 measured in a direction counter to rotation of the cylinder is provided with a long butt 41, and every fourth jack starting with those having the long butts 47 and measured in a direction counter to cylinder rotation is provided with a long butt 48. Thus, the jacks which are intended to raise predetermined needles for taking wrapping yarns are adjacently positioned with'a pair of inactive jacks therebetween. The pair of cams 56 and 57 carried by the block 5| are effective to respectively elevate those jacks having long butts 44 and 45for the purpose of elevating the respective needles associatedin the same slots therewith to a position where they may receive yarns which are wrapped thereon by the fingers of the means H to be described. On the other hand the cams 54 and 55 of the block 50 are at respective levels to engage the long butts 47 and 48 in order to elevate the jacks upon which said long butts are positioned and the respective needles associated therewith to a position where they may receive yarns in cooperative relation with the device H. In View of the slotted body I02 of the device H it can well be understood that a yarn controlling finger III may be provided thereon for each Preferably the arrangement is such that half as many yarn controlling fingers ill are provided as needles, although it can well be understood that such arrangement may be variable. In the set-up shown in Figure 8 the device H is provided with certain fingers I I I having only the long top butts II4 for the feeding of a spotting or design providing or contrasting yarn 204 to needles controlled by 1 the adjacent jacks having the long butts 44 and 45. On the other hand yarn guide fingers I I I are provided, havingonly long butts H5 for controlling the feed of a spotting or design providing contrasting yarn 205 to those needles which are controlled by each pair of adjacent jacks having the long butts 47 and 48. Another way of expressing the arrangement is to say that the jacks are divided into series; each series including four of the effective needle-raising jacks in 50 stepped relation at the levels 44, 45, 41 and 48.

In each of these series one of the yarn fingers I I I controls the feeding of yarn to those needles elevated by the jacks having long butts 44 and 45 in that series, and the finger III controls the feeding of the other yarn in wrapped relation upon those needles elevated by the jacks having butts 4? and 48 in the series.

Referring at this time to Figure 3 for an understanding as to the manner in which the yarns G9 are wrapped upon the needles, it will be noted the jack actuating cams.

that a needle 32 has been elevated in advance of the swinging of a yarn controlling finger I II into position for the feeding of a yarn 2H thereto. This needle 32 is of course elevated by any of The latch ring I30 is provided with a guide wire 206 having a curved bar portion 20? extending closely along the inside of the line of needles at a location just below the hook ends of the needles when the latter are low- 70 ered, for the purpose of preventing the yarns controlled by the guide fingers III from becoming entangled with sinkers and other needles than those intended. Each series of yarn finger actuating cams is provided on the latch ring with 75 a cooperative yarn guide bar or member 208,

- ly inwardly and downwardly to the inside of the line of needles, as shown at 2I0. As the yarn finger I I I is swung outwardly by one of the cams, either in the series mounted in the block I 4| or the series mounted in the block I42, it will be noted that the same swings the yarn 2I I into taut position over the bar 201 and between the raised needle 32 and the bar portion 209 of the guide 208. As the cylinder and device H rotate the yarn at the location 2I I will engage against the bar portion 209 and be held temporarily thereagainst until the raised needle 32 engages this portion 2| I of the yarn 2H and wraps the same I thereon; the yarn then riding off the bar 2H) as shown for the yarn ZI I in Figure 3, and at which time the finger moves inwardly to its normal position.

Referring now to the set-up shown in Figure 8 it will be noted that the cam block I42 is provided with only one effective cam I50 which, as before mentioned, is at a level to actuate only those yarn fingers having long top butts H4. On the other hand the other cam block I4! is provided with only one effective cam I46 which, as above mentioned, actuates only those jacks having long butts H5. The yarn fingers Ill as can readily be understood, throw the additional yarn 204 in position for wrapping upon the needles controlled by the jacks which have the long butts 44 and 45 in each series. Correspondingly the fingers II I are actuated by the cam I45 to throw the yarn 255 into position for wrapping upon those needies whose jacks in each special series of jacks are actuated by the cams 54 and 55.

As to the manner in which the earns 54 to 51 inclusive are actuated off the drum til, it will be noted from Figure of the drawings in conjunction with Figures 1 and 8 of the drawings that the cam 54 is controlled off one of the levers I9! whose end rides along the line indicated by the dot and dash lines 2I5 in Figure 10 of the drawings. Along this line 2I5 there are provided uniformly spaced lugs 2H5 with spaces 2I1 therebetween. As the lever I91 controlling the cam 54 drops into these spaces 2H the cam 54 is thrown into position for engaging the long butts 41in order to elevate the predetermined needles associatedtherewith to take the yarn 255, as indicated in Figure 8. Similarly the cam 55 is actuated off a lever I91 which rides in the path shown by the dot and dash line H8 in Figure 10 of the drawings. Along this line 2I8 there are also provided lugs 2I0 which have spaces 220 therebetween uniformly spaced and staggered with respect to the spaces 2I'I. As the lever I9! controlling with other lever mechanism the cam 55 drops into the spaces 220, the cam 55 will be thrown into position for engaging the long butts 48 of the jacks and elevating the needles associated in the slots therewith to take the yarn 205. In like manner the cam 55 is controlled off a lever mechanism I S'I whose end rides along a line indicated by the dot and dash line 22I in Figure 10 of the drawings. Along this line 22I there are provided lugs 222 with spaces 223 therebetween in the same relation on the drum as the spaces ZI'I above mentioned. 7 This throws the cam 55 into position for engaging the long butts 44 of the jacks and elevating the needles associated therewith at the same time that the cam 55 is in position for elevating the jacks intended therefor. The cam is controlled off a lever mechanism I91 which travels along a line indicated by the dot and dash line 224 in Figure 10. Along said line there are lugs 225 with spaces 22% located in the same relation on the drum as the spaces 22% above described. This throws the cam 5! into jack actuating position at the same time as the cam 55, but the cam 57 is in position for actuating the long butts 45.

In the set-up shown in Figure 8 the yarn controlling finger cams Hit and I581 remain in actuating position at all times. To that end the drum I33 is provided with circumferential ribs or lugs 23!! and 2.3I which through the mechanism above described maintains the cams M6 and I50 in finger operating position at all times.

One of the most important features of the invention is the provision of a needle leveling cam E li shown'in various views of the drawings, and particularly in Figure 4, slidably mounted in a block 245 and normally spring urged at 252 into position to engage the butts of those needles which have been elevated by the cams operating in the block 59 to lower them in advance of the series of cams which operate in the block 5|. Thus, after the additional yarns have been fed to those predetermined needles which have been elevated by the cams operating in the block 5B they are lowered in order not to interfere with the feeding of other yarns to those needles which are subsequently elevated by the cams operating in the block 5|.

The cam 248 is actuated off the pattern control wheel I95 through a bell crank lever 2A2 and a connecting rod 243.

A leveling cam 259 is provided to bring the jacks into position for proper actuation by the two series of jack actuating cams. This cam 250 is actuated ofi" the pattern control wheel I95 thru a suitable lever mechanism including the bell crank lever 252.

Referring to Figure 12 wherein the additional yarn 285 is shown interknitted in design producing relation with the main body yarn of the fabric, it will be noted that in one wale of the fabric the stitches 260 are knitted in two successive courses and from thence the additional yarn 248 is floated on the inside of the fabric diagonally across the next two successive courses and in the following two successive courses the stitches ZGI are produced of said yarn in the fourth wale removed from that wherein the stitches 260 appear. The additional yarn 2% is then floated on the inside of the fabric back to the wale having the stitches 250 placed therein and the plating is reproduced in like manner along the fabric. The plating stitches 269 are produced on those needles which are controlled by the cam 5'! through actuation of the jacks having butts A5, and the stitches 26I are produced off of those needles actuated off the jack actuating cam 56, as can quite readily be understood.

Merely by way of illustrating the extreme versatility of the improved knitting machine,

which may knit in the fabric one or more contrastingly colored additional yarns within a boundary closed design knitted after the wrap needle method, I have shown another set-up in Figure 14, for the production of the fabric shown in Figure 13. In this fabric M the body yarn has a diamond shaped design knitted therein in a plated relation, using the wrap needle method, with an additional yarn of green color, and within this green diamond design there is also knitted a plated diamond design, after the wrap needle method, with a contrastingly colored yarn, such as red. Indeed, in the center of the design and within the design knitted by the red additional yarn there may also be interknitted other contrastingly colored yarns.

Nine consecutive jacks are provided in each special series of jacks, see Figure 14, for knitting the design shown in the fabric M. The center jack has merely one long butt 44; the jacks at each side of the central jack are provided with the long butts 45. The next outermost jacks in the series are provided with the special long butts 46; the next outermost jacks in the series are provided with the long butts 48, and the eX- treme end jacks in the series are provided with the long butts 47. Of course, the series of jacks may have their lowermost butts 49 divided, half into short butts and half into long butts, so that the design may be cut out when knitting certain parts of the fabric, as will be well understood. These bottom butts are not actuated by any of the design producing cams. Also each jack of the set F except the center one in each special series has a short butt M In the cam block 50 there are provided cams 21B, 2H and 2'12 at levels for respectively actuating those jacks which have long butts 46, 4'! and 48 in order to elevate the respective needles associated therewith for taking the green plating yarn 214 which is controlled by a finger III for each of the special series of jacks; this finger III having a top butt H4 actuated off the cam I45, which is the only efiective cam in the block MI. This cam I45 is actuated off the pattern control drum I33 by means of a lug 215 shown in Figure 16 of the drawings in order to hold the finger II I in position for wrapping of the green yarn 214 upon the needles which are raised through successive actuation of the cams 210, 212, and 2', in a manner which will be sub sequently described.

The jack cam block 5| is provided with three cams 211, 218, and 219 which are intended to actuate the long jack butts of the special jack series at the levels 44, 45, and 46. For those needles which are raised by the last three mentioned cams the corresponding series of yarn controlling finger actuating cams include a cam I50 and a cam I52, which will act upon the butts H4 and H6 respectively of the fingers. Each special series of jacks is provided with two yarn controlling fingers, one of them the yarn controlling finger III above mentioned which controls the green yarn 214, and the other the yarn controlling finger II I which controls a red yarn 280.

Referring to the sequence for the knitting of the design in the fabric M, and referring to the lug arrangement shown in Figure 15 for jack cam actuation, the cam 21? will first be thrown in by dropping of a lever mechanism IQ? into the notch 285 of the drum BI, which knits the plating stitches 288 shown in the fabric M of Figure 13. Thereafter the cam 218 is thrown into jack actuating position by dropping of its lever mechanism into the notch 289, which elevates the two needles having jacks with butts for the taking of green yarn and the knitting of the stitches 290 shown in the fabric. During the knitting of these four courses having the stitches 288 and 290 appearing therein the cam I is in position for actuating the finger III to wrap the green yarn 214 upon the appropriate needles; a lug 292 on the drum I33, shown in Figure 16, actuating the cam I51 in this manner. Thereafter the cams 21B, 212, and 21! are successively thrown into jack actuating position by the respective dropping of their lever mechanisms into the spaces 296, 291, and 298 for the knitting of the plated stitches 299, 300, and 30! respectively. It is of course understood that during the time that these earns 218, 21! and 212 are in jack actuated position the yarn finger HI is held in needle wrapping position by the cam M5; the latter being held in position by the lug 215 on the drum I33. Simultaneous with the throwing of the jack cams 210, 212 and 21! into position the cams 211, 218, and 219 are respectively thrown into successive jack actuating positions for elevating the needles to take the other contrasting (red) yarn 288 in order to knit the stitches 304, 305, and 303, which are respectively in the same courses as the stitches of the contrasting yarn. These cams 211, 213, and 219 are actuated to produce the stitches 304, 305, and 396 by the dropping of their lever mechanisms respectively into the spaces 338, 309, and 3H3, as shown in Figure 15 of the drawings. The red yarn 280 is of course fed to the needles actuated at this time by the yarn finger HI which is held in position by the cam I52; the latter being actuated through its lever mechanism off the lug 3|2, shown on the drum I33 in Figure 16 of the drawings. Thereafter the stitches 355 and 316 of the contrasting yarn 280 completing the inner portion of the design are knitted upon the needles actuated by the jack actuating cams 213 and 211 respectively, whose lever mechanisms are actuated off the drum spaces 320' and 32! shown in Figure 15 of the drawings. The green plated portion of the design is completed as to the stitches 325, 326, 321, and 328 by successive actuation of the cams 212, 210, 218 and 211, whose'respective lever mechanisms successively are actuated off the pattern controlling drum spaces 33!), 33I, 332, and 333. At this time the green yarn 214 is fed to those needles actuated off the cams 212 and 210 by finger cam M5 actuated off the drum lug 215 and to the needles actuated off cams 218 and 211 by finger cam l 50 actuated ofi the drum lug 232 Of course the cam 240 is employed in the same manner as above described for lowering the needles after they have received yarn from the cam series in the block MI.

The yarn 214 is of course floated between successively knitted stitches and from course to course across the inside of the fabric. The yarn 283 is similarly floated, but the float portions at the inside of the fabric between successive stitches in different courses will cross over and float behind the float portions of the yarn 213. These crossing over float portions of the yarn 280 are designated at 23B in Figure 13. It is characteristic of them that they tend in to bind the float portions of the yarn 214 and prevent them from hanging too loosely.

Many and varied complicated patterns, designs, stripes, and contrasting figures may be knitted in plated relation after the wrap needle method with my improved machine, as can readily be understood from the foregoing typical ex amples; it being quite obvious that through manipulation of the two series of jack actuating cams and two series of yarn finger controlling cams in combination with the varied lug arrangement of the two pattern controlling drums therefor, that practically any plateddesign may be produced with a large variety of contrasting yarns.

In the improved machine the cylinder C is of the type adapted to support 224 needles, although not.limited to such number. For this cylinder the yarn finger supporting cone has slots for accommodating 112 fingers, and of course the bobbin stand is provided with means for supporting 112 bobbins. The variety of contrastingly colored designs utilizing color Within color which can be produced with this machine will be readily apparent from the foregoing.

It is readily understandable that any number of pattern drum actuating lugs may be provided on the gear 23, so that the wrapneedle plating may be effected in any desired number of consecutive courses in-the fabric. In the examples shown each tooth movement of the drum permits the cylinder to revolve twice.

The usual set of needle actuating cams is provided, including the stitch cams 340. The body or main yarn 34!, fed by one of the conventional yarn guides i3! is knitted into fabric at the knitting point 342, in a manner which is well understood in this art. Other cams shown in Figures 8 and 14 of the drawings not described are of conventional order.

I claim:

1. A circular knitting machine comprising in combination a circular series of needles, means for introducing a main knitting yarn to said needles, means for feeding a wrap yarn to selected nonadjacent needles in wrapped relation thereon, and means for feeding a second and contrasting wrap yarn to other selected needles between the said nonadjacent needles for producing a fabric havingthe contrasting yarns appearing in adjacent design producing relation in the same knitted courses.

2. In a knitting machine the combination of a series of independent needles, means to feed a main body yarn thereto, means to actuate the needles for knitting said body yarn means to actuate selected needles for wrapping thereupon a contrasting additional yarn to produce in the fabric a boundary closed design, and means to actuate said needles to interknit in said fabric and in the area within said boundary design a contrastingly colored yarn.

3. The method of producing plated fabric which comprises feeding a. main yarn to a course of needles in knitting relation, selectively elevating recurrent predetermined needles, wrapping an additional yarn thereon and then lowering said needles, thereafter and in the same km'tting course selectively elevating other predetermined needles lying between the first mentioned predetermined needles and wrapping another yarn thereon, and manipulating the needles with said yarns to complete the knitting of the fabric controlling means for cooperatively feeding selective contrasting yarns to difierent predetermined needles raised into position by said cams.

4. In a knitting machine the combination of a cylinder having a needle set movable therein consisting of independent needles, a cam set for actuating the needles for the knitting of fabric,

means for feeding a main knitting yarn to the, needles, a set of jacks having a special series therein with butts at diiferent levels, a selectively operated series of cams for selectively actuating the jacks thru engagement of the butts at the different levels for raising the needles cointo fabric,

operating with said jacks into yarn receiving position, a second series of selectively operated cam-s for similarly raising said needles, pattern control means for selective actuation of the cams of said two series, a rotary yarn supporting stand including a member having a plurality of yarn controlling fingers thereon, said yarn controlling fingers having butts thereon at different levels, a set of cams in position to actuate against the butts for moving the fingers into cooperative needle yarn Wrapping relation upon the needles which are raised by the first mentioned series of jack actuating cams, a second series of yarn controlling finger actuating cams for actuating said fingers into yarn wrapping relation with the needles which are raised by the second mentioned series of jack actuating cams, and pattern controlling means for selectively actuating the cams of the two series of yarn controlling finger actuating cams and for synchronizing their action with the series of jack-actuating cams.

5. In a knitting machine for producing fabrics with plated designs appearing therein, the combination of a cylinder having an independent needle set thereon, a cam set for actuating said needles, a set of jacks for the individual needles, a series of cams for actuating the jacks and moving the needles into yarn receiving position, a pattern control drum, means actuated off the pattern control drum for operating said series of cams, a yarn controlling device including a support having a pltuality of independently movable yarn controlling fingers, a set of cams for selective actuation of the yarn controlling fingers for moving the latter into yarn applying position with the needles which are brought into position by the series of jack actuated cams above mentioned, a. second pattern control drum, and means actuated off the second pattern control drum for selective actuation of the cams of the series which operate said yarn controlling fingers.

6. In a knitting machine for producing fabrics with plated designs appearing therein the combination of a cylinder having an independent needle set thereon, a cam set for actuating said needles, a set of jacks for the individual needles, a series of cams for actuating the jacks and moving the needles into yarn receiving position, a pattern control drum, means actuated off the pattern control drum for operating said series of cams, a yarn controlling device including a support having a plurality of independently movable yarn controlling fingers, a set of cams for selective actuation of the yarn controlling fingers for moving the latter into yarn applying position with the needles which are brought into position by the series of jack actuated cams above mentioned, a second pattern control drum, means actuated off the second pattern control drum for selective actuation of the cams of the series which operates said yarn controlling fingers, and means for throwing the last mentioned means entirely out of operation during the knitting of certain parts of the main web.

'7. In a knitting machine the combination of a cylinder having a set of independently movable needles thereon, means for feeding a body yarn thereto to knit fabric, means for feeding a wrap thread to non-adjacent needles of the set of needles with floats extending across the backs of the intermediate needles between said nonadjacent needles, and means for feeding a second wrap thread to a selected arrangement of said intermediate needles in the same knitting course with said first mentioned wrap thread.

8. In a knitting machine the combination of a set of independently movable needles, means to feed a body yarn thereto to knit fabric, means to manipulate non-adjacent needles of a certain group of needles to receive a wrap thread with floats of the wrap thread extending across the back of the intermediate needles, and means to feed upon some or all of the needles of the same group which did not receive the first wrap thread and in the same knitted courses with the latter a second wrap thread with fioats extending across the back of any intermediate needles.

9, In a knitting machine a set of independent needles, a needle actuating cam set, means for feeding a main yarn to the needles, a series of jacks co-acting individually with a certain group of said needles, said jacks having butt-s thereon at different levels, a series of cams for operating upon selected butts of said series of jacks in pattern controlled relation, a second series of cams for operating upon the butts of said series of jacks to elevate them in pattern controlled relation, means for feeding an additional yarn to I the needles as elevated by the first mentioned series of cams with float portions of said yarn extending back of any intermediate needles not raised by said cams, means to lower the needles thereafter upon which said additional yarn has been fed, means to feed another yarn to the needles raised by the second series of cams subsequent to lowering of the needles which receives said first additional yarn and in the same course of knitting therewith, and pattern control means for synchronously actuating all of said cams.

10. In a rotary knitting machine the combination of a rotary cylinder, independently movable needles therein, means to feed a body yarn to the needles of the cylinder to knit fabric, means to wrap a patterning yarn upon needles of a predetermined group of needles so that the floats of said wrap yarn extend across the backs of any intermediate needles in said group, and means to feed upon the said intermediate needles of the said group and in the same knitted courses with the first mentioned wrap yarn, a second wrap yarn of contrasting color with respect to the first mentioned wrap yarn.

11. In a rotary knitting machine the combination of a rotary cylinder, independently movable needles therein, means to feed a body yarn to the needles of the cylinder to knit fabric, means to wrap a patterning yarn upon needles of a predetermined group of needles so that the floats of said wrap yarn extend across the backs of any intermediate needles in said group, and means to feed upon one of said intermediate needles of the said group and in the same knitted courses with the first mentioned wrap yarn, a second wrap yarn of contrasting color with respect to the first mentioned wrap yarn.

12. In a knitting machine the combination of a series of independent needles, means to feed a main body yarn thereto, means to actuate the needles for knitting said body yarn into fabric, means to selectively actuate certain needles for wrapping thereon a single wrapping yarn to pro duce in the fabric a boundary closed wrapped design, and means to further selectively actuate said needles and to interknit in said fabric and inside of the area bounded by said boundary closed design a second wrapping yarn.

HARRY McADAMS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,221,715. November 12, 19m.

HARRY McADAMS. It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 7, sec- 0nd column, lines 62 to 65 inclusive; claim 5, strike out the words "controlling means for cooperatively feeding selective contrasting yarns to different predetermined needles raised into position by said cams and that the said Letters Patent should-be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this l).|.th day of January, A. D. 191.11. 7

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents 

